Convertible seat for an aircraft passenger

ABSTRACT

A convertible seat to accommodate an aircraft passenger. The seat includes a frame, a sitting portion borne by the frame, a back, and a jointed footrest along the transverse edge of the sitting portion. The seat can change from a so-called seated position in which the back forms an angle with the sitting portion and its base is close to the rear transverse edge of the sitting portion to a so-called lying-down position in which it has a more or less level surface intended to accommodate a passenger in the lying down position. The frame is a fixed frame. At most two of the elements of the whole constituted by the sitting portion, the back, and the footrest form the more or less level surface of the seat in lying-down position. At least one additional berth is provided to cooperate with the sitting portion and/or the back and/or the footrest to form the more or less level surface intended to accommodate a passenger in the lying-down position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a convertible seat intended to accommodate anaircraft passenger and more particularly, but not exclusively, such aseat intended to be surrounded by a wall defining the space around theseat intended for the individual traveling in this seat.

In aircraft intended to travel long distances, several comfort classesgenerally are offered to the passengers. One type of seat generallycorresponds to each comfort class. Accordingly, for the highest comfortclass there generally are seats convertible into a bed and thus allowingthe passengers to sleep in a lying-down position. There also are seatshaving a tilting back and footrest. Finally, there also are seats, ingeneral without a footrest, in which only the back can be slightlytilted.

The space set aside for a passenger varies according to the comfortclass. For reasons of comfort and safety, the seat for one passengermust not encroach excessively upon the space set aside for a neighboringpassenger, in particular the passenger occupying the seat positionedbehind said seat. Thus, when the seats are relatively close to eachother, the tilting of the back can be only a few degrees. When the seatsare spaced farther apart, the tilting of the back can be greater. In thelatter case, the tilting is limited according to the distance separatingthe free end of the seat in relation to the back of the sitting portion.Thus, by way of numerical example, it can be provided according to thedistance separating two rows of seats, that one seat must not, forexample, encroach more than 60 cm upon the space left in front of theseat located behind it, and this then corresponds, for example, to a130° tilt of the back.

In the compartments of an aircraft offering a seat convertible into abed, it is known, in order to enhance the comfort of the passengers inthis compartment, to surround the seat with a wall isolating theindividual traveling in the seat from the rest of the compartment. Aseat which is converted into a bed by merely pivoting the back and thefootrest to bring them into the plane of the sitting portion is notsuited to such a compartment layout, because a considerable space islost at the rear of each seat.

To solve this problem, document WO-96/18537 proposes a seat convertibleinto a bed which is found on the aircraft of some airline companies.This seat is implemented on a frame which is assembled sliding inrelation to the floor of the cabin of the aircraft in which it islocated. Then, in order to change from the armchair configuration ableto accommodate a passenger in seated position to the bed configurationto accommodate a passenger in lying-down position, a motor causes themovable frame to slide while other motors act in particular on the backand the footrest to bring them more or less into the plane of thesitting portion of the seat.

Such a seat allows the passengers to travel under optimal comfortconditions. The seats described in this document, however, are veryheavy, which puts the airline company at a disadvantage in terms of thenumber of passengers and pieces of luggage which can be loaded on boardthe aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention then has the purpose of supplying a seat convertible intoa bed the mass of which is reduced. When this seat changes from itsconfiguration provided for accommodating a seated passenger to itsconfiguration provided for accommodating this passenger in lying-downposition, or conversely, it preferably is advisable for the seat toremain within the space limits defined by a wall positioned around theseat and defining the space allotted to the passenger during the flight.

To this end, it proposes a convertible seat intended to accommodate anaircraft passenger, comprising a frame, a sitting portion borne by theframe and a back, this seat being able to change from a so-called seatedposition in which the back forms an angle with the supposedly horizontalsitting portion to a so-called lying-down position in which it has amore or less level surface intended to accommodate the passenger inlying-down position.

According to the invention, the frame is a fixed frame and the seatcomprises on the one hand guiding means to make the back change from itsseated position to a more or less horizontal position and, on the otherhand, at least one additional berth cooperating with the back to formthe more or less level surface intended to accommodate the passenger inlying-down position.

The frame here is the structure, more often than not metal, which bearsthe various components of the seat and which must withstand the stressesto which these components and the passenger are subjected in the eventof mechanical demands. By keeping this frame fixed, the saving in weightcan be appreciable. As a matter of fact, considering the magnitude ofthe stresses which the seat structure must be able to withstand, themechanism making it possible to move this structure must be able to takeup these stresses and therefore must be reinforced, which entails aconsiderable additional mass.

The guiding means are, for example, guiding means which make it possiblefor the back to have a rotary and possibly also translatory movement.The back then is used to implement the bedding surface with anadditional berth which does not necessarily include the sitting portionand/or a possible footrest.

When the back has a base and a free end, then the guiding means for theseat advantageously comprise translatory guiding means for the base ofthe back. Such a translation makes it possible to make the most of thespace available for a passenger and thus to convert the seat into a bedwithout having to encroach upon the space intended for anotherpassenger.

More generally, this invention proposes a convertible seat intended toaccommodate an aircraft passenger, comprising:

a frame,

a sitting portion borne by the frame,

a back having a base and a free end, and

possibly a jointed footrest along the transverse edge of the sittingportion between a position more or less perpendicular to the sittingportion and a position in which the plane of the sitting portion and theplane of the footrest form an obtuse, or even straight, angle,

this seat being able to change from a so-called seated position, inwhich the back forms an angle with the sitting portion and its base isclose to the rear transverse edge of the sitting portion, to a so-calledlying-down position in which it has a more or less level surfaceintended to accommodate the passenger in lying down position.

According to the invention, the frame is a fixed frame, at most two ofthe elements of the whole constituted by the sitting portion, the backand the footrest form the more or less level surface of the seat inlying-down position, and at least one additional berth is provided tocooperate with the sitting portion and/or the back and/or the footrestto form the more or less level surface intended to accommodate thepassenger in lying-down position.

The fact of keeping a frame fixed in relation to the aircraft cabin inwhich it is assembled makes possible a very appreciable saving in weightin relation to the convertible seats of the prior art which have amovable frame as indicated above. The seats of the prior art which areconvertible likewise use their back, their sitting portion and theirfootrest to form the level surface intended to accommodate the passengerin lying-down position. With respect thereto, this invention proposesusing at most only two of these three elements and an additional berthto obtain this level surface. Despite the use of a supplementaryelement, the overall mass of the convertible seat according to theinvention can remain very appreciably smaller than the mass of theconvertible seats of the prior art.

The elements of the whole constituted by the sitting portion, the backand the footrest and which form the more or less level surface if theseat in lying down position can change from their position correspondingto the seated position of the seat to their position corresponding tothe lying-down position of the seat by virtue of guiding means such as,for example, rotatory (joint, pivot, axis, etc.) guiding means and/ortranslatory (rails, jacks, etc.) guiding means.

In a preferred embodiment, the back is a component element of the levelsurface intended to accommodate the passenger in lying-down position.

In this embodiment, the seat advantageously comprises guiding meansmaking it possible, at the time of changeover of the seat from theseated position to the lying-down position, to guide the back in suchmanner that the back comes to cover most of the position of the sittingportion in its seated position. The back in lying-down position then,for example, covers the sitting portion, and a selected edge of the backin lying-down position in the whole comprising the base of the back andits free end preferably is more or less superposed on one edge of thesitting portion.

Said guiding means make it possible, at the time of changeover of theseat from the seated position to the lying-down position, to guide theback according to a movement which advantageously is a combination of alongitudinal translation and a rotation around a more or less transversehorizontal axis.

These guiding means comprise, for example, on both sides of the frame,at least one guiding rail so as to guide the base of the back, at thetime of changeover from the seated position to the lying-down position,from the position corresponding to the rear of the sitting portion inseated position to a position corresponding to the front of the sittingportion in seated position.

In a variant embodiment, these guiding means comprise on both sides ofthe frame at least one guiding rail so as to guide the base of the back,at the time of changeover from the seated position to the lying-downposition, from the position corresponding to the rear of the sittingportion in seated position to a drawn-back position such that when thebase of the back is in this drawn-back position, the free end of theback is in a position corresponding to the front of the sitting portionin seated position.

A preferred embodiment provides that the back of the seat according tothe invention is joined to a fixed portion of the seat by means of twolevers located on both sides of the sitting portion, that each lever isassembled pivoting around an axis more or less horizontal and transversein relation to said fixed portion, and that the back is assembledpivoting around a more or less horizontal transverse axis between thetwo levers. This embodiment makes possible easy handling of the back tochange it from its more or less vertical position to its more or lesshorizontal position or conversely. In addition, this technical solutionis simple and low in cost price. The sitting portion is, for example,fastened to the frame, thus constituting a fixed portion of the seat,and the levers then can be assembled on the lateral sides of the sittingportion. In order to follow the shape of the seat and not to form aprotruding part, in particular when the seat is in seated position, thelevers advantageously have an L shape. In order to facilitate pivotingof the back, the two levers advantageously are joined by a plate. Thelatter makes it possible to rigidify the movable whole comprising theback. For each lever, the distance between the axis of pivoting of thelever in relation to said fixed portion and the axis of pivoting of theback ranges, for example, between half and three-quarters of the lengthof the sitting portion, in the longitudinal direction.

In these different embodiments described above, there preferably areprovided clamping and/or locking means which hold the back in itsturned-up position when the seat is in its so-called seated position.

In the case in which the back is used to form the level surface intendedto accommodate the lying-down passenger, the additional berthcooperating with the back to form a level surface comprises, forexample, a shelf capable of moving between a more or less horizontalposition as a continuation of the back toward the front when the seat isin lying-down position and a more or less lateral vertical position inthe seated position. The more or less level bedding surface then can bemade up of the back in more or less horizontal position and said movableshelf. On the other hand, in a variant in lying-down position, saidmovable shelf cooperates, for example, with the back and a unit arrangedfacing and at a distance from the frame and the height of whichcorresponds more or less to that of the sitting portion of the seat.

An embodiment of a seat according to the invention provides that thesitting portion is assembled pivoting around a transverse axis locatedclose to its front edge so as to be able to pivot approximately 180° andthen be more or less the continuation of the back in lying-downposition. In this embodiment, the means cooperating with the back toform a level surface comprise, for example, the pivoted sitting portionas well as a unit arranged facing and at a distance from the frame andthe height of which corresponds more or less to that of the sittingportion of the seat.

Another embodiment provides that it comprises a footrest assembledpivoting around a transverse axis located close to its front edge so asto be able to pivot approximately 90° and then be more or less thecontinuation of the back in lying-down position. The means cooperatingwith the back to form a level surface then comprise, for example, thepivoted footrest as well as a unit arranged facing and at a distancefrom the frame and the height of which corresponds more or less to thatof the sitting portion of the seat.

Said unit also can comprise a movable flap capable of pivotingapproximately 180° around a more or less transverse horizontal axis soas to form an additional berth.

An advantageous variant provides that the back incorporates anadditional berth. The latter is assembled, for example, sliding, or elsepivoting, in relation to the back.

There also may be provided scenarios in which the back is turned downbut does not cover the sitting portion. Such a case is, for example, thecase in which the convertible seat comprises guiding means making itpossible, at the time of changeover of the seat from the seated positionto the lying-down position, to guide the back according to a movementwhich is the combination of a longitudinal translation and a rotationaround a more or less transverse horizontal axis, such that the back andthe sitting portion are the continuation of one another, the base of theback being situated facing the front transverse edge of the sittingportion. The additional berth then, for example, is a fixed partassembled on the frame at the rear of the sitting portion and thecontinuation thereof.

The invention also relates to the embodiments in which the level surfaceintended to accommodate a lying-down passenger does not comprise theback. Such a seat according to the invention comprises, for example,guiding means making it possible, at the time of changeover of the seatfrom the seated position to the lying-down position, to guide the backaccording to a movement which is the combination of a longitudinaltranslation toward the rear and a rotation around a more or lesstransverse horizontal axis such that the back in the lying-down positionof the seat is more or less perpendicular to the plane of the sittingportion of the seat. The back then is put “out of the way” and storedvertically, leaving the space available for implementing the beddingsurface with other elements. The level surface intended to accommodate apassenger in lying-down position then comprises, for example, thesitting portion of the seat, a fixed portion assembled on the frame atthe rear of the sitting portion and as a continuation of the latter, aswell as a shelf capable of moving between a more or less horizontalposition as a continuation toward the front of the sitting portion inthe lying-down position and a more or less lateral vertical position inthe seated position.

This invention relates very particularly to a convertible seat such asdescribed above and characterized in that it further comprises a lateralwall surrounding in particular the back of the seat.

In such a seat, a luggage compartment advantageously is provided betweenthe lateral wall and the seat frame. This luggage compartment preferablycomprises a lateral door which can be a door sliding in a more or lessvertical plane with the aid of a more or less horizontal guiding railborne by the lateral wall.

This invention also relates to a module comprising a seat as well as awall surrounding the seat at least partially, characterized in that theseat is a seat such as described above.

Finally, it relates to an aircraft intended for the transport ofpassengers comprising a convertible seat such as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Details and advantages of this invention will emerge more clearly fromthe description which follows, presented with reference to the attachedschematic drawing, on which:

FIG. 1 represents a seat according to the invention in its configurationto accommodate a passenger in seated position,

-   -   FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show the seat of FIG. 1 when it is        in intermediate positions between its so-called seated position        and its so-called lying-down position,

FIG. 4 schematically shows the seat of FIG. 1 converted into a bed,

FIGS. 5 a to 5 e are schematic side views showing the movement of theback of the seat of FIGS. 1 to 4 during changeover from the position ofFIG. 1 to that of FIG. 3,

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d, 7 a to 7 d, 8 a to 8 d, 9 a to 9 d, 10 a to 10 d, 11 ato 11 d and 12 a to 12 d schematically show seven distinct embodimentsof a convertible seat according to the invention, respectively in seatedposition, in a first intermediate position, in a second intermediateposition and in the lying-down position, and

FIGS. 13 a to 13 c schematically show in side view a preferentialembodiment of an armchair intended for a seat according to the inventionin a first seated position, in a second seated position with the backinclined toward the rear and in a lying-down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a seat according to the invention.This seat comprises a sitting portion 2, a back 4 and a footrest 6. Oneach side of the sitting portion 2 there also is an armrest 8, in eachcase.

This seat is intended to accommodate an aircraft passenger and to befastened on the floor of an aircraft cabin. This seat is moreparticularly intended for a first-class compartment of an aircraft orelse possibly for a business-class compartment. Then to clearly definethe space given to the passenger traveling in the seat, a wall 10surrounds this space. It is understood that the seat is located withinthis space and an opening 12 implemented in the wall 10 allows access tothe interior of this space and to the seat. This wall 10 has, forexample, a height of approximately 80 cm, which corresponds more or lessto the height of the armrests 8. Thus an individual seated in the seatcan chat with a neighboring individual and be relatively well isolatedfrom the other travelers when the seat is converted into a bed. It isunderstood, however, that a different height can be chosen.

FIG. 1 shows the seat in a so-called seated position in which it isintended to accommodate a passenger traveling in seated position. FIGS.2 and 3 show intermediate positions of the seat of FIG. 1 prior toreaching the so-called lying-down position illustrated in FIG. 4. In thelatter position, the seat has a more or less level bedding surfaceintended to accommodate a passenger in lying-down position.

FIGS. 5 a to 5 e illustrate the changeover of the back 4 from its moreor less vertical turned-up position corresponding to the seated positionof the seat (FIG. 1) to its more or less horizontal extended positioncorresponding to the lying-down position of the seat (FIGS. 3 and 4).These FIGS. 5 illustrate only the armchair accommodating the passengerin seated position and not all the components of the seat also allowingit to be converted into a bed.

FIGS. 5 a to 5 e make it possible to better perceive the structure ofthe seat itself. The latter comprises a frame 14 having four legs forattachment thereof to the floor. This attachment is implemented, forexample, in a manner standard in the field of aviation. In aircraftcabins, provision usually is made to incorporate into the floor 16longitudinal rails (not illustrated) distributed over the entire widthof the cabin and extending over more or less the entire length thereof.These rails have regularly spaced anchoring points, generally with adistance of 2.54 cm, or one inch. Each leg of the frame 14 then comes tobe attached in known manner to an anchoring point of such a rail.

In the course of the description, it is considered that the space isoriented as perceived by a passenger seated (or lying down) in the seat.The floor 16 of the cabin therefore is down below and is horizontal,while the seat is above the floor. The back 4, in the seated position ofthe seat, is at the rear of the seat. The armrests 8 are arrangedlongitudinally and are to the right and left of the sitting portion 2.

The frame 14 has a framework connecting the legs at a distance from thefloor. The sitting portion 2 of the seat is integrally attached to thisframework. The rear legs of the frame 14 extend upward above theframework to serve as a support for the armrests 8.

As for the back 4, it has pins 18 assembled at the end of legs 20. Thepins 18 are guided in grooves 22 implemented on the frame 14, on thelongitudinal edges of the framework. The back 4, in the seated positionof the seat, has a base 24 located down below at the level of thesitting portion 2 and a free end situated on the opposite side of thebase 24 and bearing a headrest 26. The legs 20 each on the one hand areattached to the base 24 of the back 4 and on the other hand bear a pin18 at their free end. Each pin 18 extends more or less horizontallycrosswise in relation to the seat. Two legs 20 are located on each sideof the back 4 and more or less form a V the free ends of which each beara pin 18. The grooves 22 are implemented on a more or less verticalplate, one plate being arranged to the left of the sitting portion 2 andanother to the right thereof. Clamping and/or locking means are providedto hold the pins 18 in a given position in the corresponding groove 22.These clamping and/or locking means possibly are remote controlled, forexample by a lever arranged at the front end of an armrest 8.

FIG. 5 a shows the back 4 in its turned-up, more or less verticalposition corresponding to the seated position of the seat. The pins 18then abut on the rear of the corresponding grooves 22.

FIG. 5 b shows the back 4 when the latter is starting to tilt toapproach the horizontal position. In this first movement, the backpivots around the axis defined by the two upper pins 18. The latter abuton the bottom of the groove 22 and the lower pins 18 move toward thefront in the lower grooves 22.

After this first pivoting movement, the back 4 advances toward the frontof the seat in an essentially translatory movement (FIG. 5 c). The base24 of the back 4 then approaches the front of the sitting portion 2.

When the base 24 of the back 4 comes close to the front of the sittingportion 2 (FIG. 5 d), the translatory movement of the back toward thefront is combined with a rotation so as to bring the back 4 into a moreor less horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 5 e.

It is noted in these FIGS. 5 that the movement of the back 4 takes placewithout being hindered by the wall 10. The frame 14 and the wall 10 arearranged in relation to one another such that in the more or lesshorizontal extended position of the back 4, on the one hand the headrest26 is close—at most a few centimeters away—to the wall 10, and on theother hand, the base 24 of the back is more or less above the fronttransverse edge of the sitting portion 2.

Given that the height of the back 4 is greater than the length of thesitting portion 2, when the conditions of the preceding paragraph aresatisfied, a space then remains between the frame 14 which is beneaththe sitting portion 2 and the wall 10. This space advantageously can beused for the storage of luggage. Thus there is noted in FIGS. 1 to 4 thepresence of a sliding door 28 on the wall 10, arranged at the level ofthe floor 16 of the cabin and at the rear of the seat, to allow accessto and closing of this storage space. A horizontal guiding rail 30 is,for example, provided in the wall 10 to allow sliding of this door 28.

The presence of such a storage space behind the seat is veryadvantageous. As a matter of fact, the storage volume made available inthis way is greater than the volume customarily provided per passengerin an aircraft cabin. Furthermore, this layout of a luggage compartmentbehind the seat and on the floor 16 entails practically no additionalweight, as is the case when luggage compartments are set up overhead inan aircraft cabin.

The changeover of the back 4 to the horizontal position does not make itpossible to accommodate a passenger in lying-down position. Additionalmeans then are provided to cooperate with the back 4 in horizontalposition in order to create a bedding surface capable of comfortablyaccommodating a man in stretched-out position. FIGS. 3 and 4 show theseadditional means and illustrate their implementation.

An additional berth 32 is provided inside the wall 10. When a passengeris traveling seated in the seat, this additional berth 32 is storedvertically along the wall 10, inside the latter, in front of the frame14. This additional berth 32 has a level surface complementary to thesurface of the back 4 to form a full berth capable of accommodating apassenger.

This berth 32 could be simply an element independent from the rest ofthe seat and from the wall 10 which would be held, for example, with theaid of straps when it is stored vertically along the wall 10 and whichwould be undone in order to place it in horizontal position to cooperatewith the back in horizontal position to form a berth.

It is preferable, however, to provide guiding means to facilitate thechangeover of the additional berth 32 from its vertical stored positionto its horizontal “service” position. Thus, for example, a more or lesshorizontal axis can be provided at the bottom of the additional berth 32when the latter is in vertical stored position along the wall. This axisthen is engaged in a more or less vertical guiding groove on the onehand on the seat side, for example the groove can be implemented on afront leg of the frame 14, and on the other hand on the wall 10 sidefacing the seat. Then when the axis of the additional berth 32 abuts inthe high position, or else even during movement of this axis in thecorresponding grooves, the additional berth 32 is pivoted (cf. FIG. 3)to assume a horizontal position (cf. FIG. 4). This additional berth 32is held in this horizontal position by resting on the front transverseedge of the sitting portion 2 as well as on a ledge 34 implemented onthe inner surface of the wall 10 opposite the seat.

In standard manner, the seat according to the invention also cancomprise a footrest 6 as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Thisfootrest 6, for example, can be tilted to support the legs of apassenger traveling in seated position and to enhance his comfort. Sucha footrest is not described in further detail here because, on the onehand, it is known to the individual skilled in the trade, and on theother hand, in this described embodiment it is not involved in theconversion of the illustrated armchair into a berth.

It is noted in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the armrests 8 are in a loweredposition in relation to the position of FIG. 1. In this way, thepassenger traveling lying down is not made uncomfortable by thesearmrests 8 which also can be used to increase the bedding surface.

The convertible seat so implemented can have a mass appreciably smallerthan the mass of the convertible seats which are found in present-dayaircraft. This is achieved in particular by virtue of the fact that theframe 14 is a fixed frame which does not move. This seat therefore is ofa completely innovative design. As a matter of fact, in the prior art,an armchair is converted into a berth by placing one next to the other,in more or less the same plane, the back of the armchair, its sittingportion and its footrest. In order then to be able to be converted intoa bed, while remaining in a quite restricted given defined space, itthen is preferable in the art prior to the invention to move the sittingportion of the armchair. The proposed solution described hereinabovedoes not require any movement of the sitting portion. In comparison withthe convertible seats of the prior art, it involves an additionalelement, the addition berth 32, and although it has this additionalelement, the total mass can be considerably smaller than the mass of astandard convertible aircraft seat.

In addition to the very significant advantage as relates to the seatmass, the solution proposed above has another significant advantage asrelates to storage of luggage traveling in the cabin. This solutionmakes it possible to eliminate the luggage compartments which usuallyare found overhead in aircraft cabins, which provides a furtheradvantage in terms of mass. Another advantage is to make it possible tohave a considerably greater feeling of space in the aircraft cabin. Inaddition, the luggage is easier to store, since it becomes unnecessaryto pick it up to lift it into a compartment: it suffices to slide it onthe floor, which is considerably more ergonomic. Finally, as the luggageis stored at floor level, there is no risk of its falling down when theluggage compartment is opened.

FIGS. 6 to 12 show the variant embodiments of a convertible aircraftseat according to the invention, which also offers numerous advantagesin relation to the convertible seats of the prior art.

The seats and other elements illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 12 also can besurrounded by a wall 10 such as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. This wallpreferably is provided for all these embodiments in order to define thespace given to a passenger. Nonetheless, to prevent this wall fromconcealing portions of the seat, it is not illustrated on these Figuresin order to better show the conversion of the seat into a berth.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the back 4 also cooperates with anadditional berth 32, which can be identical to the one of the precedingFigures and which therefore bears the same reference, to form a berth.The difference here is the direction of pivoting of the back 4 to changefrom its more or less vertical position to its horizontal position.Whereas in the first embodiment described previously, the back 4 waspivoted such that its front surface in the seated position becomes theupper surface in lying-down position, in this second embodiment, it isthe rear surface of the back 4 in seated position which becomes theupper surface in lying-down position.

In order to accomplish this new pivoting and translatory movementsymbolized by black arrows in FIG. 6 b, grooves 42 are provided. Likethe grooves 22, they are implemented laterally on the frame 14. Insteadof being more or less at the height of the sitting portion 2, however,they are behind the latter. The grooves 42 thus make it possible toguide the base of the back 4 in translation toward the rear at the sametime that the back 4 pivots to fold down on the sitting portion 2.

Once the back 4 is folded down, there is seen again the same additionalberth 32 as in the first embodiment, which is translated upward andpivots—black arrows in FIG. 6 c—to form a more or less level beddingsurface. The additional berth 32 here also rests, for example, on aledge such as the ledge 34 of the preceding Figures, but which has notbeen illustrated here.

In the variant embodiment of FIG. 7, the back 4 takes up the samemovement as in the embodiment of FIG. 6 and is guided by grooves 42 tochange from the more or less vertical turned-up position to the more orless horizontal position.

In this embodiment, the passenger has facing him a unit 36 which canhave several functions. It can serve simply as a seat in the event thatthis passenger wishes to welcome another passenger and chat with him.This unit 36 also can serve as storage, for example, for a comforter anda pillow which are used when the seat forms a berth. It also can serveto house a television or computer screen. All these functions are givenby way of nonrestrictive example.

This unit 36 has an upper portion which is more or less at the sameheight as the back 4 when the latter is in horizontal position. To thenform a berth when the back 4 is turned down horizontally, provision ismade to use an additional berth 32′, similar to the additional berth 32of the preceding Figures. Nonetheless, considering the presence here ofthe unit 36 and the upper portion thereof, the additional berth 32′however, is of reduced size in relation to the additional berth 32described previously. This additional berth 32′ of reduced size also isstored vertically between the armchair and the unit 36 and changes fromits vertical stored position to its horizontal “active” position bytranslation and pivoting, as illustrated by the two black arrows of FIG.7 b. Here also an axis can be provided for pivoting. There also can beprovided merely two grooves, one on the side of the frame 14 of the seatand the other on the side of the unit 36 for storage of the additionalberth 32′. In horizontal position, the additional berth 32′ thus comesto rest on the sitting portion 2 and the unit and forms a more or lesslevel berth with the turned-down back 4 and the upper portion of theunit 36.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the back 4 changes from its more or lessvertical turned-up position to its horizontal position in the samemanner as for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.

In this fourth embodiment of a seat according to the invention, therealso again is seen an additional berth 40. In original manner, thisadditional berth 40 is stored in the back 4. It has more or less thesame length as the back 4 and a slightly lesser width.

The back 4 can be hollow, for example, and thus have a tubularrectangular section shape, possibly closed at the end opposite the baseof the back 4. The additional berth 40 then is housed in the cavity ofthe back.

The back 4 also can have a U-shaped section. The base of the U forms thefront surface of the back 4 when the latter is in turned-up position,that is, the surface against which the passenger leans when he issitting in the seat. The two branches of the U then form a runner inwhich the additional berth 40 slides.

Once the additional berth 40 has been brought outside the back 4, it isadvisable to position it at the same level as the back 4 by atranslation of a few millimeters, or centimeters, upward. For thispurpose, there can be provided a mechanism similar, for example, to thatused to extend a table. Extension pieces then are stored under the topof the table and are made to slide in order to bring them out, andultimately the extension is positioned on the same level as the top ofthe table. Here furthermore, considering the significant slant,provision also is made to support the free edge of the additional berth40. A support 38 thus is positioned facing the armchair. It is in theform of a vertical wall facing the armchair. Sustaining lugs (notillustrated), for example, are provided on the surface of the support 38located on the side of the armchair to accommodate and hold the free endof the additional berth 40.

The fifth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 is a variant embodiment ofthe fourth embodiment. There is seen again the same movement of the back4 to change from the more or less vertical turned-up position to themore or less horizontal position, and an additional berth 40′ isincorporated into the back 4.

Here the additional bed 40′ is assembled pivoting in relation to theback 4. It thus suffices to provide a hinge at the base of the back 4between the latter and the additional berth 40′ to bring the latter intohorizontal position. To convert the seat into a bed, the back 4therefore is brought into its more or less horizontal position as shownin FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, then the additional berth 40′ is pivoted in orderto double the bedding surface obtained with the back 4 placed inhorizontal position. Here also, considering the significant slant, theadditional berth 40′ is held with the aid of a support 38 advantageouslyequipped with sustaining lugs.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the back 4 changes from its more or lessvertical turned-up position to its more or less horizontal position inthe same manner as for the first embodiment shown in detail in FIGS. 1to 5. The same as for the embodiments of FIG. 7, a unit 36 facing thearmchair is seen again here.

This embodiment is a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 8. In fact, thereis seen again here an additional berth 40″ incorporated into the back 4and sliding in relation thereto. By virtue of the presence of the unit36, the additional berth 40″ is of reduced size in relation to theadditional berth 40 of FIG. 8. The changeover of the seat from theseated position to its lying-down position takes place as for theembodiment of FIG. 8. At the end of conversion, the berth then is formedhere from the back 4, the additional berth 40″ and the upper portion ofthe unit 36, whereas for the embodiment of FIG. 8, the berth comprisesonly two parts: the back 4 and the additional berth 40.

The seventh embodiment of a seat according to the invention proposedhere is developed, for example, from the preceding embodiment. In fact,there again is seen a similar back 4 guided by grooves 22 for thechangeover into its horizontal position and the presence of a unit 36facing the armchair.

The bedding surface comprises the back 4 brought into horizontalposition and the upper portion of the unit 36. This does not suffice toaccommodate a passenger in lying-down position and it is advisable tofill in the space between the back 4 in horizontal position and the unit36. In this embodiment, the invention proposes using the footrest 6 asis done in standard manner in the convertible seats of the prior art,bringing this component of the armchair into a more or less horizontalposition, as a continuation of the back 4. It also proposes dividing theupper portion of the unit into a fixed part and a flap 44 joined to thefixed part by means of a hinge, arranged on a transverse edge of thefixed part, on the armchair side.

The berth thus implemented is made up of four elements: the back 4, thefootrest 6, the flap 44 and the fixed upper portion of the unit 36.

In the eighth embodiment of a seat according to the invention proposedby this description (FIG. 12), the back 4 of the seat first of allchanges from its more or less vertical turned-up position into a more orless horizontal position in the same manner as for the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-5 and 8-11. Once it is in this position, the entire back 4pivots 180° around a transverse axis more or less corresponding to thefront transverse edge of the sitting portion 2. A support 38 withsustaining lugs for accommodating and supporting the back 4 again isseen facing the armchair.

This seat also comprises an additional fixed berth 46 which is more orless on the same level as the sitting portion 2 and which is acontinuation of same toward the rear. When the seat is surrounded by awall such as the wall 10 of FIGS. 1 to 5, this additional fixed berth 46preferably extends until reaching this wall 10. In this manner, thebedding surface offered to the passenger is as large as possible, takinginto consideration the dimensions of the wall 10.

Like FIGS. 5 a to 5 e, FIGS. 13 a to 13 c show an armchair of aconvertible seat according to the invention. For the sake of simplicityand clarity, for the armchair only the sitting portion, the back and theguiding means for the latter have been illustrated in these Figures.

In this embodiment, the sitting portion 2 of the armchair remains fixed.The back 4 is joined to the sitting portion 2 by means of two levers 48.In FIGS. 13 a to 13 c, only the right lever is visible, the other lever48 being concealed. This left lever 48 is similar to the lever visiblein the drawing. As can be seen, each lever has a general L-shape.

Each lever 48 is assembled pivoting on the one hand in relation to thesitting portion 2 and on the other hand in relation to the back 4. Eachlever 48 is assembled pivoting around a transverse horizontal axis 50,arranged laterally at the rear of the sitting portion 2. In pivotingaround this axis 50, each lever 48 remains in a more or less verticalplane. The axis 50 traverses the lever 48 at its free end correspondingto the small branch (horizontal) of the L.

The back 4 is assembled between the two levers 48. The joint betweeneach lever 48 and the back 4 is formed by a transverse horizontal axis52. The two levers 48 are joined, for example, by a plate 48 a whichextends to the rear of the back 4 in seated position. This plateextends, for example, over all or part of the height of the large branch(vertical) of the levers 48. It makes it possible, by rigidifying themovable whole comprising the seat, to facilitate the movement of thiswhole in relation to the sitting portion 2.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 13 a, the armchair is in a normalseated position. In FIG. 13 b, the back 4 is tilted toward the rear inrelation to the position of FIG. 13 a. In order to change from theposition illustrated in the latter Figure to the position of FIG. 13 b,the two levers each pivot around their axis 50. The two positions of thelevers 48 illustrated in these two FIGS. 13 a and 13 b are, for example,indexed.

In the positions illustrated in FIGS. 13 a and 13 b, the levers 48 arelocked on their axes 50 and the back 4 is locked in relation to the axes52. The locking means used here are not illustrated in the drawing. Suchlocking means are known to the individual skilled in the trade.

In order to change from the position illustrated in FIG. 13 a or that ofFIG. 13 b to the position illustrated in FIG. 13 c, it is well to havethe levers 48 pivot in the direction of the arrow shown next to axis 50and to have the back 4 swing in the direction of the arrow shown nearthe axis 52. In this movement, the bottom of the back 4, that is, theportion of the back in seated position near the sitting portion 2, movesmore or less along the upper surface of the sitting portion 2. Thismovement is illustrated by a third arrow above the sitting portion 2.

There have been illustrated in FIGS. 13 a and 13 c, on the one hand awall 10 surrounding the seat corresponding to the sitting portion 2 andto the back 4 illustrated and as visible in FIGS. 1 to 5, and on theother hand a luggage compartment 54. This luggage compartment 54occupies space at the rear of the illustrated armchair, between theframe (not illustrated) thereof and the wall 10. Such a luggagecompartment 54 then can accommodate two bags of the size usually allowedin the cabin of an airplane.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 b and 13 c, this luggage compartment 54 alsocan serve as a support for the back 4 of the illustrated armchair. Inthe embodiment depicted, the luggage compartment 54 has a cut-off cornerin its upper portion on the armchair side. The slant of this cut-offcorner corresponds to the slant of the back in its seated positiontilted toward the rear (FIG. 13 b). The bottom of the back 4 thus cancome to rest against this slanted corner which also serves as a stop forthe levers 48. In FIG. 13 c, the back 4 is in more or less horizontalposition and it comes to rest on the upper portion of the luggagecompartment 54.

In this preferred embodiment, the distance separating the axes 50 and 52on the same side is slightly greater than half the length of the sittingportion 2. In this manner, it is possible to move the bottom of theback, at the time of changeover from a seated position to the lying-downposition, for a distance corresponding more or less to the length of thesitting portion 2. This distance separating the axes is dependent, ofcourse, on the position of these axes. It also possibly depends on thethickness of the sitting portion and of the back. In a variantembodiment, arranging the axes 50 not at the level of the sittingportion 2 but at the level of the frame (not illustrated on FIGS. 13 ato 13 c) of the armchair, or on another fixed portion of the armchair,could be considered.

The back 4, in the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 13 c, thusforms a portion of the bedding surface of the seat according to theinvention in lying-down position. To complete the bedding surfaceobtained with the back 4 so as to be able to accommodate a passenger inlying-down position, additional means such as those illustrated in FIGS.1 to 4 or 6 to 12 can be considered.

All these embodiments make it possible to have a seat convertible into abed in simple manner. They can be implemented making very appreciablesavings in weight in comparison with known aircraft seats which can beconverted into beds. Provision is made for these seats to be surroundedby a vertical wall separating the passenger traveling in this seat fromthe rest of the cabin space, thus creating an individual space for thepassenger in order to enhance his comfort.

In comparison with the convertible seats of the prior art, the beddingsurface is not made up of the back, the sitting portion and thefootrest, but comprises at most two of these three elements. It also isnoted that the frame of the seat, that is, the structure, generallymetal, which is intended to hold the aircraft seat in its position whilewithstanding the mechanical stresses to which the seat can be subjected,is fixed and does not move in relation to the cabin in which it islocated.

This invention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinaboveby way of nonrestrictive examples. It also relates to all the variantembodiments within the reach of the individual skilled in the trade inthe context of the claims hereinbelow.

Thus, for example, other embodiments can be considered. Thus, forexample, having an additional berth incorporated into the sittingportion of the seat can be considered. The seat also can be made movablein relation to the frame which bears it.

In all the embodiments presented, the back is used to serve as a beddingsurface. A variant in which the back would be left in vertical position,pushed completely toward the rear, also can be considered. The beddingsurface then could comprise the fixed sitting portion supplemented atthe rear by a fixed cushion extending the sitting portion and at thefront by an additional berth stored vertically, for example, cooperatingor not cooperating with a unit.

The guiding means for the back can be different from those shown formoving the back. In a variant embodiment, the back can be assembled on atrolley capable of moving in relation to the frame of the seat.

1. A convertible seat configured to accommodate an aircraft passenger,comprising: a frame; a sitting portion borne by the frame and includinga first end and a second end opposite the first end; and a back, whereinthe seat is configured to change from a seated position in which theback forms an angle with a horizontal sitting portion to a lying-downposition in which the back has a substantially level surface configuredto accommodate the passenger in the lying-down position, and when theseat is in the seated position, the back is closer to the first end thanto the second end, wherein the frame is a fixed frame, and the seatfurther comprises guiding means for changing the back from its seatedposition to a substantially horizontal position, and at least oneadditional berth cooperating with the back to form the substantiallylevel surface configured to accommodate the passenger in the lying-downposition, the at least one additional berth is located closer to thesecond end than to the first end when the seat is in the lying-downposition, and the sitting portion is in a same position relative to theframe when the seat is in the seated position as when the seat is in thelying-down position.
 2. A convertible seat according to claim 1, whereinthe back has a base and a free end, and the guiding means for the seatcomprises translatory guiding means for the base of the back.
 3. Aconvertible seat according to claim 2, further comprising guiding meansfor making it possible, at a time of changeover of the seat from theseated position to the lying-down position, to guide the back accordingto a movement that is a combination of a longitudinal translation and arotation around a substantially transverse horizontal axis such that theback and the sitting portion are a continuation of one another, the baseof the back being situated facing a front transverse edge of the sittingportion.
 4. Convertible seat according to claim 3, wherein the at leastone additional berth is a fixed portion assembled on the frame at therear of the sitting portion and a continuation thereof.
 5. A convertibleseat according to claim 1, wherein the back is joined to a fixed part ofthe seat by two levers located on both sides of the sitting portion,each lever is assembled pivoting around an axis substantially horizontaland transverse in relation to the sitting portion, and the back isassembled pivoting around a substantially horizontal transverse axisbetween the two levers.
 6. A convertible seat according to claim 5,wherein the sitting portion is fastened to the frame, and the levers areassembled on lateral sides of the sitting position.
 7. A convertibleseat according to claim 5, wherein the levers are joined by a plate. 8.A convertible seat according to claim 5, wherein for each lever adistance between the axis of pivoting of the lever in relation to thesitting portion and the axis of pivoting of the back ranges betweenone-half and three-quarters of a length of the sitting portion, in alongitudinal direction.
 9. A convertible seat according to claim 1,wherein at least one of clamping and locking means holds the back in aturned-up position when the seat is in the seated position.
 10. Aconvertible seat according to claim 1, wherein the additional berthcooperating with the back to form a level surface comprises a shelfconfigured to move between a substantially horizontal position as acontinuation of the back toward a front when the seat is in thelying-down position and a substantially lateral vertical position in theseated position.
 11. A convertible seat according to claim 10, whereinthe substantially level bedding surface is made up of the back in thesubstantially horizontal position and the movable shelf.
 12. Aconvertible seat according to claim 10, wherein in the lying-downposition, the movable shelf cooperates with the back and a unit arrangedfacing and at a distance from the frame and a height of whichcorresponds substantially to that of the sitting portion of the seat.13. A convertible seat according to claim 1, wherein the sitting portionis assembled pivoting around a transverse axis located close to itsfront edge to be configured to pivot approximately 180° and then besubstantially a continuation of the back in the lying-down position. 14.A convertible seat according to claim 13, wherein the guiding meanscooperating with the back to form the substantially level surfacecomprises the pivoted sitting portion and a unit arranged facing and ata distance from the frame and a height of which correspondssubstantially to that of the sitting portion of the seat.
 15. Aconvertible seat according to claim 1, further comprising a footrestassembled pivoting around a transverse axis located close to its frontedge to be configured to pivot approximately 90° and then bemefe-ef-less substantially a continuation of the back in the lying-downposition.
 16. A convertible seat according to claim 15, wherein theguiding means cooperating with the back to form a level surfacecomprises the pivoted footrest and a unit arranged facing and at adistance from the frame and a height of which corresponds substantiallyto that of the sitting portion of the seat.
 17. A convertible seataccording to claim 14, wherein the unit comprises a movable flapconfigured to pivot approximately 180° around a substantially transversehorizontal axis to form the at least one berth.
 18. A convertible seataccording to claim 1, wherein the back incorporates the at least oneadditional berth.
 19. A convertible seat according to claim 18, whereinthe at least one additional berth incorporated into the back isassembled sliding in relation to the back.
 20. A convertible seataccording to claim 18, wherein the at least one additional berthincorporated into the back is assembled pivoting in relation to theback.
 21. Convertible seat according to claim 1, further comprising alateral wall surrounding a rear area, behind the convertible seat. 22.Convertible seat according to claim 21, wherein a luggage compartment isprovided between the lateral wall and the frame of the seat. 23.Convertible seat according to claim 22, wherein the luggage compartmentcomprises a lateral door.
 24. Convertible seat according to claim 23,wherein the lateral door is a sliding door in a substantially verticalplane with aid of a substantially horizontal guiding rail borne by thelateral wall.
 25. Module comprising a seat and a wall surrounding theseat at least partially, wherein the seat is a seat according toclaim
 1. 26. Aircraft for transport of passengers, comprising at leastone convertible seat according to claim
 1. 27. A convertible seataccording to claim 1, wherein the back is configured to rotate in afirst direction when changing from the seated position to the lying-downposition, and the at least one additional berth is configured to rotatein a second direction transverse to the first direction when changingfrom the seated position to the lying-down position.
 28. A convertibleseat configured to accommodate an aircraft passenger, comprising: aframe; a sitting portion borne by the frame and including a first endand a second end opposite the first end; a back including a base and afree end; and a jointed footrest along a transverse edge of the sittingportion between a position substantially perpendicular to the sittingportion and a position in which a plane of the sitting portion and aplane of the footrest form an obtuse or straight angle, wherein the seatis configured to change from a seated position in which the back formsan angle with the sitting portion and its base is close to a reartransverse edge of the sitting portion, to a lying-down position inwhich the back has a substantially level surface configured toaccommodate the passenger in the lying-down position, and when the seatis in the seated position, the back is closer to the first end than tothe second end, wherein the frame is a fixed frame, the back and at mostone of the sitting portion and the footrest form the substantially levelsurface of the seat in the lying-down position, and at least oneadditional berth is provided to cooperate with at least one of thesitting portion, the back, and the footrest to form the substantiallylevel surface configured to accommodate the passenger in the lying-downposition, the at least one additional berth is located closer to thesecond end than to the first end when the seat is in the lying-downposition, and the sitting portion is in a same position relative to theframe when the seat is in the seated position as when the seat is in thelying-down position.
 29. A convertible seat according to claim 28,further comprising guiding means for guiding, at a time of changeover ofthe seat from the seated position to the lying-down position, the backsuch that the back in the lying-down position comes to cover most of aposition of the sitting portion in the seated position.
 30. Aconvertible seat according to claim 29, wherein the back in thelying-down position covers the sitting portion, and a selected edge ofthe back in the lying-down position comprising the base of the back andits free end is substantially superposed on one edge of the sittingportion.
 31. A convertible seat according to claim 29, wherein theguiding means makes it possible, at the time of changeover of the seatfrom the seated position to the lying-down position, to guide the backaccording to a movement that is a combination of a longitudinaltranslation and a rotation around a substantially transverse horizontalaxis.
 32. A convertible seat according to claim 29, wherein the guidingmeans comprises on both sides of the frame at least one guiding rail toguide the base of the back, at the time of changeover from the seatedposition to the lying-down position, from a position corresponding to arear of the sitting portion in the seated position to a positioncorresponding to a front of the sitting portion in the seated position.33. A convertible seat according to claim 29, wherein the guiding meanscomprises on both sides of the frame at least one guiding rail to guidethe base of the back, at the time of changeover from the seated positionto the lying-down position, from a position corresponding to a rear ofthe sitting portion in the seated position to a drawn-back position suchthat when the base of the back is in the drawn-back position, a free endof the back is in a position corresponding to a front of the sittingportion in the seated position.
 34. Convertible seat according to claim28, wherein the guiding means makes it possible, at a time of changeoverof the seat from the seated position to the lying-down position, toguide the back according to a movement that is a combination of alongitudinal translation toward a rear and a rotation around asubstantially transverse horizontal axis such that the back in thelying-down position of the seat is substantially perpendicular to aplane of the sitting portion of the seat.
 35. Convertible seat accordingto claim 34, wherein the level surface configured to accommodate apassenger in lying-down position comprises the sitting portion of theseat, a fixed portion assembled on the frame at the rear of the sittingportion and as a continuation of the frame, and a shelf configured tomove between a substantially horizontal position as a continuationtoward the front of the sitting portion in the lying-down position and asubstantially lateral vertical position in the seated position.
 36. Aconvertible seat according to claim 28, wherein the back is configuredto rotate in a first direction when changing from the seated position tothe lying-down position, and the at least one additional berth isconfigured to rotate in a second direction transverse to the firstdirection when changing from the seated position to the lying-downposition.